Nioka Workman

Nioka Workman is an active among force of innovative cellists forging new frontiers for string players. Drawing on the “genius” of celebrated bassists and family members, uncle Arthur Harper and father, Reggie Workman, Nioka has a developed a powerful, original style of her own.

“My Heart is in analyzing sound, music and concepts and how things are structured.”

And so it is with this music “deconstructionist.” Versed in many forms, Nioka’s multi-disciplinary approach has afforded her credits with leading artists in music, dance, performance art, theater and television. Her credits include R& B collaborations with India Arie and Joe; Hip-Hop collabs and extensive tours with Spoken-Word artist, Saul Williams; Singers J.D. Walters, Helga Davis and gracing the stage with such music illuminaries as Kanye West, Jay-Z and Common at the Pepsi Smash Festival.

Nioka Workman is an active among force of innovative cellists forging new frontiers for string players. Drawing on the “genius” of celebrated bassists and family members, uncle Arthur Harper and father, Reggie Workman, Nioka has a developed a powerful, original style of her own.

“My Heart is in analyzing sound, music and concepts and how things are structured.”

And so it is with this music “deconstructionist.” Versed in many forms, Nioka’s multi-disciplinary approach has afforded her credits with leading artists in music, dance, performance art, theater and television. Her credits include R& B collaborations with India Arie and Joe; Hip-Hop collabs and extensive tours with Spoken-Word artist, Saul Williams; Singers J.D. Walters, Helga Davis and gracing the stage with such music illuminaries as Kanye West, Jay-Z and Common at the Pepsi Smash Festival.

Nioka primarily performs as a soloist but isn’t afraid to step out as a leader.

Her new band, a fusion of jazz/funk and beyond, has recently exploded onto the scene, displaying her organized to “out of control” style of music making. On the string front, Nioka co-founded Firey String Sistas!, a Jazz chamber ensemble that creates originals and arrangements that defy any traditional notion of strings.

An ongoing affair …

Besides her love of music, Nioka also has an ongoing love affair with dance and movement. Her passion has lead to various commissions of her work by numerous dance companies including the Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey collaborations with Michael Wimberly and solos with the Errol Grimes Dance Company. Her work has premiered at such tony venues as the Joyce Theater, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors the Rush Arts Gallery and Blue Heron Theater. Her work on Woomen, a work based on women and rituals by dancer/choreographer, Marlies Yearby has lead to the co-founding of Woomen Moves by Nioka and Yearby. The company designed to provide self- empowering workshops and retreats for women is evolving towards a practice of healing workshops through sound and movement.

To whom so much is given …

Overall, Nioka’s passion for the cello and it’s evolution keeps her busy extending into the future. Nioka Workman is “passing the baton” to the next generation with Loft Arts Productions, an artist residency programs and E Jam Services, a home business created to mentor young people by creating internships with entrepreneurs.